Sanitary eork



C- W. WALLER.

SANITARY FORK. APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 11. I919.

1,322 981 Pate'ntad Nov. 25, 1919.

MM INVENTOR.

UNETED TATES PATENT @FFEQE.

CHARLES W. WALLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SANITARY FORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Nov. 25, 1919.

Application filed February 17, 1919. Serial No. 277,685.

My invention relates to improvements in forks, and more particlarly to table forks.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved fork of this class having improved means whereby the insanitary construction of the common table fork is eliminated. In carrying out this object I provide prongs having humps or elevations which are preferably forwardly disposed and arranged alternately with the common form prongs of common forks.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing a person, such as a child, from inserting a fork too far into the mouth when using the same.

With the above mentioned and other ends in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a rear view in elevation of the form of the invention having only one prong bent; V

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the form having one inner and one lateral prong bent;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the form having both lateral prongs bent; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modification having the prong bent rearwardly instead of forwardly.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The present embodiment of the improved fork comprises a main body portion 1, provided at its lower portion with one or more common fork prongs 2 which may be disposed laterally as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be so arranged that one will be an outer prong and the other an inner prong,

In order to prevent particles of food from becoming lodged and packed between the upper portions of the prongs, as is the case in forks in common use, the upper portions of the prongs 3 are provided with humps or elevations 4, preferably disposed forwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus forming a space 5 which permits the in sertion of a dish rag, etc., to come in contact and friction with the inner side of the prong or prongs 2, and also facilitate the entrance of said rag, etc., between the prongs 2 and 8 at the point 6 to render clean the inside of the lower portions of the prongs 2 and 3 by forcing or pulling said rag, etc. downwardly between said prongs.

The humps or elevations 4E also tend to prevent the user of the fork from insert ing the prongs too far into the mouth, as the said hump or humps serve as stops which abut against the lips of the user- By providing the prong or prongs 8 with said hump or elevation 4, the prongs 2 and 3 thus render it possible to get at the inner sides of said prongs in order to properly clean the same since the bending of the prong 3 creates sufficient room for a dish rag or other suitable cleaning device, and

also exposes more fully the upper inside portion of said prongs.

If desired, the fork may be modified by bending the prong or prongs 3 rearwardly so as to form a rearwardly disposed hump or humps 7 and space or spaces 8, (instead of the forwardly disposed hump or humps 4t and space or spaces 5) as shown in Fig. 5.

I do not wish to be limited in the use of the humps 4 or 7 entirely to forks, but wish it understood that my invention of the humps at and 7 may be incorporated in other articles of manufacture provided with tines, teeth, fingers, etc., such as, for instance, combs.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A fork having the upperportion of one or more of its prongs provided with a hump, and the lower portions of said prongs being substantially parallel to one another.

CHARLES w. WALLER. 

